The Adventure at the Heart Shaped Pond

Monu and Pinky were running around in the garden, barefoot in the warm green grass playing a game of "Sigma". It was a make believe game of space travel, horses and a smart woman who did something which was "very important" - that was 7 year old Pinky's understanding of the TV serial by the name Sigma and she decided all the rules for the game they played. 5 year old Monu had no option but to agree and then beat Pinky up later when it was too much to handle.Like when she decided she was Queen of the Universe and the swing was a spaceship and would not let him play for a few hours.

After a little while, Monu got tired of the little game of Sigma and went to sit by the pond. The pond at the bottom of the garden was shaped like a heart and had a border around it which he could comfortably perch on. He looked into the water - and saw his own reflection. He started making faces at the water and grinning to himself. Then he noticed the sun was shining into the pool, looking like a glittering diamond.

Monu looked up Pinky. She was busy swingining and imagining herself to be the Queen of the universe.

"I must reach out and grab the Sun's reflection," thought Monu. After making sure that Pinky was genuinely not interested in his activities for a change, Monu plunged his hand into the pond, amidst the blooming lillies.

When he pulled out his hand, there was something in his grasp. Something that looked black and tiny and did not bite. Monu was very thrilled - he had caught some fish! He would put it in the aquarium - what fun! He began to collect as many fish as he could and put them on the border of the pond.

Suddenly, a shadow fell on the ground and on Monu. He had been too busy to notice and Pinky had come up behind him and was watching him intently. Monu was sure he would be spanked and said the first thing that came into his head:

"FISH."

Pinky looked at him for a moment and then got very excited. She had never seen such tiny fish in her life. She looked for a jar and brought it back and Monu and Pinky filled the jar with the tiny fish.

Then they took the tiny fish and put them into the aquarium at home.

***

6pm, Monu's mom decided it was time to feed the fish. When she saw the aquarium she was filled with rage. It was filled with dozens of tiny tadpoles.

Monu never understood the spanking he got that day.

***

At Pinky's house, her mom told Pinky's dad about Pinky's mischief. Pinky truly had no idea what she had done.

It was several years later when the kids learnt that tadpoles turn into frogs and that frogs are not meant for display in aquariums that it dawned on them what they had done many years ago.

*grin*